Frank Klus - Azaleas Don't Bloom Here

“You mean I can’t empathize with you.” Sandy nodded. “You’re right. No man could.”

“The fear that I would be killed, and the shame of standing there butt naked in front of everyone…” Sandy was stressing. “…in front the goddamn traffic; horns blowing, people yelling out of their cars, and the fear that if the police came they might just arrest us. Jesus Christ, Gene. I just wanted to die. I tried to be brave. I tried to plan my escape, but when Pizzaro pulled my pants down I couldn’t run away. I didn’t know what I could do. I kept waiting for Chad to do something and the next thing I know, you’re flying out of the woods like some crazy guy.” Sandy just paused to drink some of the wine, and then more before she just downed the whole glass and poured herself another one.

Eugene stared at her. “I’m glad you came, Sandy. You need to talk about this. Let me get you something to eat.”

“No, thank you, Gene. I ate before I came here. Actually, I came here because of something else, something I heard.”

Eugene was interested in what this ‘something’ was. He sat down in the chair at the table, opposite Sandy. “What?”

“Is your last name Sulke?”

“Yeah, I guess I thought you already knew that.”

“No. Everyone just called you Gene. It was Pamela who mentioned it. I used to know a….” She changed her mind and redirected. “Did you grow up in Countryside, Illinois?”

“Sure. My parents still live there. Why do you ask?”

“Do you remember a little girl you used to like, Sandy Montgomery?” Eugene’s eyes lit up.

“Oh my God! Sandy?”

Sandy just grinned and nodded. “Yeah.”

“I do remember. I had such an odd sensation that I knew you from somewhere or that you reminded me of someone. Oh I had such a crush on you.”

“I know. I felt the same way about you.”

“Then you moved away. Gee, I think we were only about ten or twelve years old. Didn’t you move to Decatur?”

“Springfield. My dad got a job with the state.”

“I always hoped that you would write. I even hoped you’d come back again.”

“I wanted to write—even started a few letters—but I never finished them. I figured, what was the use? I knew I’d never see you again. Dad said he was set for life. He bought a home and still lives there.”

Eugene was reminiscing again. He smiled softly. “We had such fun back then. I remember the time we saw that children’s movie. I can’t remember the name of it, just that it was animated, and it was about the bear that had no friends.”

“That’s right, I remember. After the movie you bought me a soda.”

“What are the odds that we’d find each other like this?”

“Practically zero. Yet here we are. We both experienced Hell House and we grew up in the same neighborhood. Oh, what time is it? There’s a movie I want to watch.”

“Stay here. I’ll watch it with you.” Sandy smiled. Eugene got up to microwave some popcorn.

After the movie, Sandy got up to leave. Eugene stood up and walked her to the door, and then Sandy turned to him, searchingly. “There’s something that I don’t understand, Gene.”

“What’s that?”

“We should be the same age, but you look much older. I don’t know, maybe ten or fifteen years older than me.” Eugene suddenly remembered about the disguise. He then let out a laugh.

“I had been wearing this for so long I forgot I had it on.”

Sandy looked perplexed.

“The makeup. I’m supposed to look older so I wouldn’t be spotted. But it doesn’t matter anymore. Wait just a few minutes. Sit down, Sandy. I want to show you what I really look like. It’ll only be about ten minutes.”

Sandy sat down in anticipation. Then she got up, mouth agape, and smiling. “Gene! Look at you!” She let out a laugh.

“Do I look any different?” he asked, playfully. Gene had lost most of his potbelly since Hell House and his escape. Now, with his disguise off, he looked really good.

Sandy was still laughing. “Oh, Gene, you’re still as handsome as I remembered.” Eugene was beaming.

“Say, Sandy, when we get to New America, do you suppose I can call you up sometime?” Sandy just laughed.

“You better.”

Three days had passed since Chad Armstrong had ordered the lawyer to get the requested maps to him. He called more than a dozen times only to be given the runaround. He turned to his two mates, looking frustrated. “He’s in a meeting; he’s out of the office; he’s with a client . It’s always something. He never returns my phone calls.” Armstrong was steaming. “Let’s go down to Phillips’s office. We’re going to have a little talk with that scoundrel.”

When they entered the outer office, the secretary greeted them. “May I help you?”

“You remember me, Chad Armstrong.”

“Oh, yes, sir. I’m sorry, but Mr. Phillips isn’t in. He’ll be in court all day.”

Armstrong scowled. Wrenn had a diabolical smile on his face, and Foote went over to the lawyer’s door and pounded on it. “Phillips! Open up.”

The secretary scolded him. “I told you, he’s not in his office. You can come back tomorrow.”

Armstrong leaned across the desk, toward the frightened secretary. “Get that bastard on the phone, and tell him to get over here right away.”

Joanne, the secretary, wasn’t sure what to do. She was beginning to believe she wasn’t dealing with just any old client. Just then, Phillips opened his door. “May I help you?” He just stood there in a starched white dress shirt, red tie and an expensive looking vest. On his left wrist was a Rolex watch. His silver hair was perfectly groomed. His head was slightly tilted in a haughty manner. Wrenn and Foote rushed in.

“You can’t just barge into my office.”

Armstrong stayed outside to keep an eye on the secretary. “Looks like your boss snuck back in without you knowing about it.”

The secretary didn’t say anything. Joanne was used to a lot of angry customers coming in and refusing to leave; even barging into Nate’s office. It happened. She knew her boss was crooked, but he paid her well. What she wasn’t used to, however, was the sound of her boss squealing several times. It frightened her.

“Let’s go in and find out what’s going on,” Armstrong said. Joanne started to protest, but Chad was insistent. They walked in and Joanne was stunned at seeing the desk moved out of the way and his boss up against the wall, staring at a dagger at his throat.

“I think he got the message, Jack,” Chad said to Wrenn. Wrenn let Phillips go and put the knife away. “Are you ready to do some business, Nate, old boy?” Chad said.

“There is no more business with you guys. I showed you the way to freedom, led you right up to the fence. Now I don’t know anything about who tipped off those two guys, but they didn’t stop you anyway. All you had to do is climb over the fence. No barbed wire to stop you. The fence was an easy climb. If you didn’t take it, then it was by your own choice. Don’t blame me. I kept my end of the bargain.”

“I take it you don’t have any maps for us,” Chad said.

“Our business is over. If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police. I understand that frightens you, doesn’t it?”

“Well, I don’t suppose frighten is the word for it. Now, talking about police is no way to conduct some unfinished business. You have a hundred grand from us, and as far as I can tell, you haven’t earned any of it.” Phillips was still defiant.

“Sit over there, Nate.” Armstrong indicated a chair over against the wall and away from his desk. He motioned to Joanne to join him.